Advice From Members

Members who participated in the January 2003 General Membership Survey offered advice on dealing with three key challenges facing BAC. The following were the most often cited suggestions:

What’s the best way to organize non-union contractors?

• Approach contractors and explain the benefits of signing an agreement, including the access to highly skilled workers.
• Cut the non-union contractors’ labor supply by organizing their workers.
• Hire professional organizers who are bilingual.
• Picket and boycott nonunion worksites.
• Improve member benefits.
• Work with government officials, and repeal Right-to-Work
  legislation.

What should we do to increase market share?

• Advertise more and promote the advantages of using masonry products.
• Maintain quality craftsmanship and continue to train members. “If you don’t have enough qualified people to do the work, you’ll lose the work.”
• Put more Union representatives in the field.
• Stabilize wage rates.
• Lobby politicians and change the laws.

How do you retain members and get them active in the Union?

• Keep members working and offer more job mobility.
• Maintain good wages and benefits, and offer better and more benefits.
• Provide better representation, and keep members informed about what the Union’s doing.
• Provide good training and apprentice programs.
• Keep doing what we’re doing. “My Local is doing a good job, the business agent knows how to reach out to people.”